Souls and Contracts

Azure, who had been diligently studying politics and negotiation for three straight weeks, was now utterly exhausted.

He stretched his arms and let out a deep sigh. "I think I've grasped at least the basics of all these books. It won't be long before I finish the remaining ones too. Then I'll have to go through everything again..." He rested his head on the desk, muttering, "I wonder how normal teenagers live their lives. But I guess that's just it—I'm special, so I have to work harder, right?" Azure resumed his studies, but the fatigue weighed heavily on him.

"Azure?" The soul's voice broke through his thoughts. "Let's take a break. You look worn out. If you keep this up, you'll collapse soon." The soul sighed. "Don't overwork yourself. You're still young, and there are limits to what your body can handle, both physically and mentally."

Azure, his voice heavy with exhaustion, replied, "Maybe I should take a break after all. Do you have any novels for me to read?" He glanced out the window toward the river. "I could read them while sitting by the river."

"Let me see what I can find." The soul's focus sharpened, even more so than when summoning the rarest of books. "Here's a fresh one. A fine book, indeed." The soul grinned.

Curious, Azure took the book from the soul, wondering why this particular one had taken so long to summon. He looked at the title: "The Star That Fell Too Soon." What's this? he thought to himself. Unable to resist, he carried the book outside and settled by the river to read.

"I won't interrupt your free time. Enjoy!" the soul said with a cheerful smile, disappearing from the riverside.

Azure opened the book, and the first page read:

'Once, there was a girl named Lyla who spent her days by the sea. Every morning, as the sun stretched its golden fingers across the horizon, she would walk along the beach, her toes sinking into the sand, watching the waves crash against the shore. She was an artist...'

Before he realized it, Azure had finished the entire book. The last paragraphs read:

'Lyla remained by his side for hours, the tide washing over them, her heart a quiet storm. The world had taken Elias away from her too soon, but in the depths of her sorrow, she knew that love like theirs, fleeting and beautiful, would never truly fade.

Years later, the people of the town would still speak of the poet who had loved the artist by the sea. And Lyla, though alone, would continue to walk along the beach, her heart heavy with the weight of a love that time had stolen from them—but one that would remain eternal, etched into the sands of the shore.'

Azure felt a wave of sadness wash over him as he closed the book. He couldn't bring himself to ask if the story was fictional or real—because, to him, it didn't matter. What mattered was the emotion the story stirred inside him. The tale of Lyla and Elias wasn't just about loss—it was about the intensity of love, the fleeting beauty of shared moments, and the pain of letting go.

The gentle murmur of the river filled the air as Azure held the book to his chest for a moment, lost in his thoughts. The words seemed to linger within him, like a haunting melody that wouldn't fade. He had never thought about love in such a way before. He had been so consumed with his studies, so focused on fulfilling expectations, that love—true connection—had always felt distant, like something for others, not for someone like him.

But now, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the water, Azure realized perhaps he had been wrong. Love wasn't something to be deferred or ignored. It was something that shaped lives, that left its mark even after it was gone. He thought about how deeply a person could affect another, whether through joy or sorrow. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking.

He stood up and walked closer to the water, still holding the book. The words of the story echoed in his mind: "Love like theirs, fleeting and beautiful, would never truly fade."

A soft breeze rustled through the trees, and Azure wondered if the soul had known that this book would touch him so deeply. Had he known it would stir something inside him, a longing he hadn't even realized he possessed? He glanced at the spot on the riverbank where the soul had been, now empty. Even in his absence, the soul had a way of guiding him—nudging him to understand feelings and experiences beyond the academic knowledge that consumed him daily.

Azure gently placed the book down on the ground and stood in silence, staring out over the river. For all his efforts to prepare for the responsibilities ahead, he realized how young he still was. He was full of questions, full of life he had yet to experience. The path he was walking—filled with duty and learning—was important, yes. But there was more to life than that. There were people, connections, and moments that would shape him in ways politics and books never could.

With a deep sigh, Azure sat back down beside the river, letting the stillness of the moment settle over him. The story had reminded him of the fragile beauty of life. Though it left him with a sharp pang of sorrow, it also filled him with a warmth he hadn't expected. For a brief moment, he wasn't just the boy burdened with the weight of the world—he was simply Azure, sitting by the river, allowing his heart to feel, to breathe.

"I'll take my time," he whispered softly to the wind. "I'll take my time to understand what really matters. And maybe one day... I'll understand love too."